Richard Milz

Valdez

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A Cook County judge today sentenced a reputed gang member to 105 years in prison for gunning down Chicago police Officer Alejandro “Alex” Valadez in 2009.In issuing the maximum sentence possible, Judge Jorge Alonso said Christopher Harris, 25, killed “one of the best of us.” Earlier, Valadez’s sisters tearfully had asked for the maximum penalty. Valadez’s first child was born a few months after his slaying. Harris declined to make a statement in court and looked down at his hands as the sentence was handed down.State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who personally prosecuted the case, had sought the 105-year sentence, saying “the criminals running around the streets of Englewood need to know there’s serious (consequences) for what you do.”

Kevin Walker, who was driving the car used in the shooting, was sentenced by Alonso to the maximum of 120 years in prison.

“We’ve lost a shining star and one of our best police officers,” Alonso said.

Walker, who faced from 56 to 120 years, apologized to Valadez’s family before he was sentenced.

Walker, who told police his nickname was “Killer Kev,” faced a longer sentence than Harris in part because he was on probation for an armed robbery at the time of the officer’s murder.